2025.07.25
At the invitation of the Grandview Institution, a delegation led by Kim Jin-pyo, former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, visited Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, on July 24. During the visit, they held in-depth discussions with Ren Libo, President of Grandview, Yin Chengkui, Professor at Beijing Normal University, and others on the development of China–ROK relations and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
On the morning of July 25, a symposium on China–ROK relations was held and lasted three and a half hours. Both sides engaged in detailed, candid, and pragmatic discussions on topics including the positive changes in China’s foreign policy, the historical stages and current state of China–ROK relations, the challenges and opportunities in advancing bilateral ties, the shared interests and visions of the two countries, the prospects for bilateral and regional economic development, and cooperation in people-to-people exchanges and the film industry.
Experts on both sides agreed that fluctuations in China–ROK political and diplomatic relations are inevitable under the influence of various domestic and international factors. However, they stressed that the stability and continuity of cultural and people-to-people exchanges should be safeguarded, especially youth exchanges involving young scholars, students, entrepreneurs, journalists, and diplomats from both countries. The vitality, creativity, inclusiveness, and diversity of the younger generation will provide more possibilities, certainty, and foresight for the development of China–ROK relations.
Former Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and Ko Dae-hwa, Chairman of the KORTOP Group, introduced the film project Shanghai Star, which is being planned in Korea. The film depicts the story of Korean independence leader and Provisional Government President Kim Koo during his refuge in Jiaxing in the 1930s, where he continued to organize revolutionary activities. The Korean side hopes the film will evoke the Korean people’s historical memory of resisting Japanese aggression and striving for independence, commemorate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, and honor the Korean martyrs and international supporters who dedicated their lives to the cause. They also expressed hope that the film could be released in China in the future as a meaningful cultural exchange activity.
On the evening of July 24, Xu Mingyang, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Jiaxing Municipal People’s Congress, and Wang Jianfeng, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, hosted a welcome banquet for Kim Jin-pyo and his delegation. On July 25, the Korean delegation visited enterprises and government offices in Jiaxing, including Hankook Tire, Jiuzhou Culture, and the Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, to learn about Sino-Korean economic cooperation and the development of the cultural industry in the region. The delegation also planned visits to Kim Koo’s former refuge sites in Meiwang Street and Haiyan County to honor revolutionary martyrs and revisit the shared history of China–Korea friendship.
Accompanying former Speaker Kim Jin-pyo were:
• Song Gi-chul, President of the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange
• Ko Myeong-jin, President of the Korean Youth Organization Association
• Kim Eon-jik, Chairman of DSD Group
• Lee Tae-un, Executive Vice Chairman of DSD Group
• Ko Dae-hwa, Chairman of KORTOP Group
• Son Su-ik, President of the Korea Bokyo International Exchange Promotion Institute
• Lim Hyeong-jin, Professor at Kyung Hee University
• Lee Mun-gi, Professor at Sejong University
• Ko Gyu-dae, Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Easy Finance
• Cha Yun-gyeong and Hyeon Se-jin, reporters of OBS
From Grandview, Luo Xiaoyu, Vice Chairman, Han Yuanzheng, Deputy Secretary-General, and Quan Xiaoxing, Young Research Fellow, joined the symposium and visits.